Dead Batteries. Maybe Charger?

BirdieNumNum

Member
Mar 16, 2019
38
Boat Info
310 Sundancer 2000
Engines
Twin 5.7 Mercruisers w/Bravo III Drives
2000 310 5.7s/B3s. Good morning. I've been dealing with dead battery issues recently. I have a ProMariner ProSport12 charger. The AC Power light is on but none of the other lights (i.e. Charge Mode, Battery Type...) are on. Is it the charger?
 
The newer models have fuses inline at the far end of the cables where they connect to the battery. That doesn't explain why the battery type light is not on. Check to make sure the charging profile cap is still in-place.

Assuming you’ve also tried turning it off, then back on?

Current install manual, troubleshooting section does not show that light pattern.

Promariner Tech Support
1-800-824-0524
 
Those chargers are 2-3 yr chargers typically. How old is yours? Likely dead. They have a new version of that one out with a 3 year warranty and some additional features. Looks interesting. Of course, the lower tier version is still available and sells for about $100.
 
I just got off the phone with Stephen at ProMariner. He sent me some field tests/fixes. Great customer service. Thank you Marksimon.
 
I had the same problem. The field fix did not work in my case. I sent back the broken charger and ProMariner replaced the charger at no cost. They stand behind their product and the customer service is great.. Hope you get resolution....
 
FYI, that ProSport is a pretty light duty charger, especially for a cruiser. Somewhere along the lines, the original charger must have crapped out (possibly an old, PM "Flyback" charge) and an owner replaced it with that ProSport. You might consider upgrading to something like their ProNautic 30 amp charger... which may also work with your existing wiring based on amperage.

Good luck on the testing, though.
 
If there is a fuse, battery or cable issue, the charger will not pass the system check and which ever bank has the issue, will be illuminated. No green check and no battery bank illuminated, typically means the charger is dead.

Any 12A 2 bank charger is too light for a boat with a house bank, IMO, brand doesnt matter. Id want at least a capacity thats 10% or greater, of the batteries Ah.
 
what age, condition, lithium/flodded/ gel.
You charger rating in 12 amps and looks like a 2 bank type.
Do you have a house bank?
 
I didn’t catch that he had a cruiser at the beginning of this thread. Absolutely the wrong charger for any boat that has a house load. Will kill the charger and cause shortened battery life if you have a house load while running the charger.
If it is just to keep the batteries topped off, then just undersized if you have group 31 batteries.
 
Since we are talking about batteries .... I have a 1998 290 Sundancer, two Batteries are wired in Parallel and one other battery (I think its a House Battery), What happens when I use the Emergency Start switch on the Helm? I ask cause with the STBD eng running the Port eng barely turns over, if I press the Emergency start switch the STBD Eng RPM goes way down and the Port Eng will still not turn over!

Thanks
Todd
 
Since we are talking about batteries .... I have a 1998 290 Sundancer, two Batteries are wired in Parallel and one other battery (I think its a House Battery), What happens when I use the Emergency Start switch on the Helm? I ask cause with the STBD eng running the Port eng barely turns over, if I press the Emergency start switch the STBD Eng RPM goes way down and the Port Eng will still not turn over!

Thanks
Todd
A house battery can't be by itself - no way to charge. The two batteries you have in parallel are one "bank" - basically just one big battery. They "should" be hooked not only to an engine, but also the house. The single battery runs the other engine. You can check in your manual to see which "bank" does what... but following the cables is the best way since things could have changed over the years.

BUT... the quick answer is... most likely at least of the batteries is kaput. Charge all three then get them load tested. But if they all have some years on them, just replace all three - which is the preferred way to do things, anyways.
 
A house battery can't be by itself - no way to charge. The two batteries you have in parallel are one "bank" - basically just one big battery. They "should" be hooked not only to an engine, but also the house. The single battery runs the other engine. You can check in your manual to see which "bank" does what... but following the cables is the best way since things could have changed over the years.

BUT... the quick answer is... most likely at least of the batteries is kaput. Charge all three then get them load tested. But if they all have some years on them, just replace all three - which is the preferred way to do things, anyways.

Looks like they go to the "Emergency Start Solenoid" Where ever that is located

My onboard battery charger is for three banks so each battery is hooked up to the charger. I know that the two batteries that are hooked in Parallel are bad since one of them the sides are bulging and the other one was very hot... I could hardly keep my hand on the side of it. Batteries are only two yrs old, I suspect the charger is bad as well.
 
Looks like they go to the "Emergency Start Solenoid" Where ever that is located

My onboard battery charger is for three banks so each battery is hooked up to the charger. I know that the two batteries that are hooked in Parallel are bad since one of them the sides are bulging and the other one was very hot... I could hardly keep my hand on the side of it. Batteries are only two yrs old, I suspect the charger is bad as well.
The charger can be hooked up to the three batteries, but technically you have (2) banks.

Yes, most likely the charger is kaput. You need to disconnect the charger immediately and replace those batteries. Do not even use the engine until the charger is eliminated and batteries are replaced. You run the risk of a battery explosion, spewing acid all over the place.

EDIT: Check your charger owners manual (or download/call the company). It/they can walk you through a diagnostic, just to double check.
 
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It`s not in the owners manual but battery maintenance is part of owning a boat.
 

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